Private Sector Portfolio Officer, Rome

Job Title : Private Sector Portfolio Officer

ID : 28554

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 05/16/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 06/04/2025

Organizational Unit : Private Sector Op Division

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-3

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

DCO is led by an Associate Vice-President and is composed of five (5) regional divisions: Asia and the Pacific Division (APR), East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), Latin America and Caribbean Division (LAC) , Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) and West and Central Africa Division (WCA), the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), and two (2) units: the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Unit (SSTC) and the fragility unit (FRU).

The Private Sector operations Division (PSD) is led by a Divisional Director based in IFAD Headquarters in Rome, Italy. PSD is responsible for origination, structuring, delivery and portfolio management of IFAD private sector investments, or Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO), as well as for business development, which includes developing the NSO pipeline and supporting complementarity between NSOs and sovereign operations within country programmes.

The Private Sector (PS) Portfolio Officer, works under the direct supervision of the Director, PSD and is expected to liaise with PSD Investment Officers on a regular basis.

Job Role

The incumbent is an expert in the thematic specialization, providing technical expertise and strategic guidance for all stages of design, development, monitoring and evaluation of IFAD's private sector investments and of operational engagements with the private sector within IFAD's sovereign investments.

The Private Sector Portfolio officer has a technical role in portfolio management of private sector investment. The incumbent works collaboratively with the PSD Investment Officers, Country Directors and regionally mapped thematic Technical Specialists, as well as with other PSD staff and with external counterparties, to ensure consistency, cohesion, and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of private sector operation and activities.

Key Functions and Results

1. TECHNICAL ADVICE IN PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS: The incumbent works closely with the Private Sector investment Officers/Specialists in the regions and HQ on the management of IFAD Non-Sovereign private sector operations (NSOs) portfolio (which could entail both direct and indirect investments through financial intermediaries as well as technical assistance). The incumbent will manage the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of NSOs. Main responsibilities include:

• Provide NSO investment oversight to ensure compliance with various loan agreements covenants
• Provide reliable and accurate aggregate financial and development impact portfolio data
• Lead monitoring and supervising of NSO portfolio performance (including regular and blended finance operations) and technical assistance
• Lead reporting of NSO portfolio performance and prepare regular NSO Portfolio Reports and the Annual NSO programme updates for submission to relevant internal committees and the Board
• Coordinate with risk management and accounting officers on maintaining accurate risk rating and project category of the individual transactions and coherent financial data
• Track NSO covenants and follow-up to ensure timely deliverables for portfolio reporting and financial obligations compliance (these can include financial and operational covenants, ESG-related covenants, among others). Develop and manage/maintain systems/processes are in place to track covenant delivery timelines and identify early warnings of covenant breaches or missed deadlines. Inform and coordinate with Private Sector Investment Officers/Specialists to undertake relevant action to ensure compliance with covenants and investment agreements. Coordinate with Private Sector Investment Officers/Specialists and other departments and engage with the investee early-on
• Lead portfolio management process, including drafting of requests for waivers, consents, and other changes in the terms of loan agreements; and support the Director PSD throughout internal review processes, especially for watch-listed projects
• Support Private Sector Investment Officers/Specialists to lead internal processes and negotiations with clients on problem investments, including support in handling of rescheduling and restructuring and obtaining required internal approvals
• Support the communication with donors and external stakeholders of the Private Sector Financing Programme
• Lead field and supervision missions and prepare annual supervision reports
• Support and monitor the processing of disbursement requests related to NSOs
• Ensure that the transfer process of executed NSO transactions from (Private Sector Investment
• Officers/Specialists to Private Sector Portfolio Officer is performed properly
• Lead the development and/or application of internal portfolio management guidelines and impact framework for NSOs, and implementation of performance monitoring systems to ensure the alignment with industry best practice
• Prepare analytical findings and reports for divisional and country-level decision making on project viability and sustainability
• Engage with various key divisions at IFAD to ensure efficient and effective review and implementation of the NSOs
• Provide technical support to the Director PSD, Country Directors, and Regional Director in building operational relationships with private sector partners within the scope of Country Strategies and of sovereign investments
• Provide technical support to the Director PSD, Country Director and Regional Director to integrate NSOs within IFAD country programmes
• Provide any other support to the PSD as required from time to time

2. SUPPORT THE DELIVERY AND REPORTING OF PSD WORK PROGRAM

• Assist the Director, PSD in the delivery of the PSD work plan; to build synergies and capacity to ensure close coordination and collaboration among the various teams
• Provide support to the Director, PSD in the delivery of PSD Special Initiatives

3. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The incumbent supports and/or facilitate stakeholder access to the latest knowledge and innovations in private sector investments and development. They will support/ facilitate the establishment of new knowledge resources and partnerships to support the operational needs of country teams and advance regional NSO and broader private sector (SO loans and grants) agenda/activities. Responsibilities include:

• Provide support on the drafting and review of relevant policies and procedures, guidelines, monitoring tools, manuals, etc
• Provide support to the development and delivery of training modules focused on developing high-performing and high-impact Private Sector (PS) programs
• Participate in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and develop appropriate technical and operations on private sector
• Perform other activities necessary to implement IFAD's Private Sector Operational Engagement Strategy
• Develop, and disseminate lessons learnt on NSOs, especially portfolio management of private sector investments

4. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The incumbent helps mobilize resources and build relevant partnerships. Responsibilities may include:

• Supporting the development of existing partnerships and outreach activities as well as development of new relationships with DFIs, impact investors, foundations and corporate partners to expand resources, market and income opportunities for smallholders, small-scale producers, cooperatives and/or agribusiness etc
• Support and or participate in IFAD's communication of NSO technical and portfolio activities and performance (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars, and conferences fora)
• Contributing to the mobilisation of resources for NSOs in collaboration with the resource mobilization officers, through partnerships and outreach activities
• Support the development of thematic investment platforms

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised. The incumbent may also be asked to supervise work of external consultants and more junior staff.

Position Specifics: The Private Sector Portfolio Officer contributes to, advises on, and/or manages:

• IFAD's private sector investment (Non-Sovereign private sector Operations-NSOs) portfolio management;
• the development and/ or application of internal portfolio management guidelines and impact framework for NSOs;
• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff -
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Managing own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. Areas - finance, financial engineering, economics, accounting, business management, or related field. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Experience:

• At least five (5) years progressively responsible experience in the portfolio management or structuring and execution of private sector investment projects/NSOs and facilities preferably in the agriculture sector involving loan, and preferably also equity and/or guarantee investments, with demonstrated sound business judgement.
• Two (2) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Knowledge of key agriculture and small-scale producers development finance debates and forums.
• Ability to work in autonomous manner and to write recommendations in a succinct and clear manner.
• Ability to represent IFAD externally and to develop and manage relationships with clients, donors, institutional and private investors, government, media, and other stakeholders.
• The following experience would be an asset: Experience in managing technical assistance, blended and climate finance investments. Experience advising IFIs or development institutions in the area of private sector investment and organization efficiency.

Languages:

• Required English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 - Good)
• Fluency in one of the desirable languages is considered a strong asset.

Skills:

• Private Sector Investment Portfolio Monitoring: Expertise in managing active private sector investments, including complex facilities and regular and blended finance investments, conducting due diligence, and providing financial/ investment decisions
• Expertise in deploying various financial instruments and processing the requests for waivers and consents.
• Project NSO and programme management execution and evaluation.
• Capacity to follow up and negotiate investee contractual obligations, including refinancing, restructuring, loan closing and default situations.
• Ability to develop, plan and consistently report on portfolio management activities and portfolio quality.
• Capacity to ensure communications (various mediums) activities accurately reflect NSO portfolio activities, financial and impact performance, and technical elements.
• Development finance: Know-how in debt, lending terms, financial policies including pricing, concessionality and resource allocation
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
• Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.

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In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.